PANAJI: Outgoing Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said the ruling Congress would have done better in the Assembly polls if he had been projected as the party's face for the top post. The picture in Goa, where BJP is set to form the new Government, would have been different if the March 3 elections had been fought completely under his leadership, he told reporters at Margao last evening. "Elections were not completely...

PANAJI: Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat , accused of shielding illegal mining during his term, today broke his silence over the issue saying his government kept renewal of mining leases on hold as it was busy formulating regulations for the industry. "When the applications for renewal were received the state government was busy drafting stamp duty amendment act and deciding buffer zones around the wildlife sanctuaries," he said in the legislative...

Digambar Kamat is the first Congress chief minister to complete his term after Goa attained statehood. In this small state known for chief ministers who have lasted less than 24 hours, this is some achievement. But Kamat's tenure has been marked by allegations of politicians' collusion in illegal mining, corruption , land-grabbing and the rise of dynastic politics. Kamat spoke about his government's efforts to curb...

PANAJI: The Congress party in Goa on Saturday declared the first list of 22 candidates for the March 3 assembly elections in the state. The first list announced tickets for stalwarts including Chief Minister Digambar Kamat , party state Chief Subhash Shirodkar, Speaker of Legislative Assembly Pratapsinh Rane, Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho and Home Minister Ravi Naik among others. Congress campaign manager Mauvin...

PANAJI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) today questioned former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in connection with multi-crore rupee illegal mining scam. Kamat was questioned for almost one and half hours this afternoon by the SIT at its office at Dona Paula near here. Two other senior officers--including former Law Secretary V P Shetye and disgraced Director of Mines and Geology Arvind Lolienkar- were also interrogated by the SIT in the evening. ...

PANAJI: The Goa government plans to file a First Information Report (FIR) against 151 people including two former Goa chief ministers, the son of a former Goa home minister, several state and central government officials, besides 100-odd mining firms in connection with illegal mining. "The FIR will be filed by the state within six weeks as directed by the court," Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told PTI. The FIR is a fall out of directives by the Bombay High...

PANAJI: Amid indications that the political drama in Goa was far from over, the BJP-led Goa Democratic Alliance moved its flock of 20 MLAs to the national Capital. They are likely to be paraded once again before President Pratibha Patil, even as the BJP prepared to seek judicial intervention to nullify speaker Pratapsinh Rane's controversial rulings which allowed the Digambar Kamat to survive the trust vote on Monday. After meeting Goa governor S C Jamir twice on Monday, the...

PANAJI: Goa government has granted permission for all shacks to go ahead with their own entertainment plans, though officially organising a party 'on the beach' with live bands, fire crackers and music troops is banned. Chief minister Digambar Kamat gave permission after shack owners sought compensation from state for banning year-end festivities. "As of now, we can have music bands and entertainment for the guests in...

PANAJI: Goa will witness a high-profile campaign for the June 2 by-elections for five assembly seats. The Congress campaign will be spearheaded by Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Union ministers Renuka Chowdhary, PR Das Munshi and MPs like Govinda and Jyotiraditya Scindia. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s campaign to be led by Pramod Mahajan, will have top leaders like Party president LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj...

PANAJI: A legislator in Goa has accused chief minister Manohar Parrikar of being involved in the "match-fixing" over the illegal mining issue in the state. "Parrikar looks like he is involved in the match fixing over the illegal mining issue, as he has not punished people involved in the illegalities," Goa Vikas Party legislator Miccky Pacheco told reporters. Pacheco has also objected to the appointment of former chief...

PANAJI: The Goa government has launched a drive against foreigners who overstay and those residing without proper permits. The state police rounded up more than 10 foreigners, whose nationality details have been withheld, for not providing vital documents. "We are taking all measures to tighten the security. These are part of the steps being undertaken in the wake of last week's terror strikes on Mumbai," said chief minister Digambar Kamat who is personally monitoring the situation.

PANAJI: A legislator in Goa has accused chief minister Manohar Parrikar of being involved in the "match-fixing" over the illegal mining issue in the state. "Parrikar looks like he is involved in the match fixing over the illegal mining issue, as he has not punished people involved in the illegalities," Goa Vikas Party legislator Miccky Pacheco told reporters. Pacheco has also objected to the appointment of former chief minister Digambar...

PANAJI: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said his government would file FIRs against former chief ministers Digambar Kamat, Pratapsingh Rane and other officials in connection with illegal mining in the state. This comes a day after the Shah commission that probed the matter indicted Kamat and the state's previous Congress governments for illegal mining. The commission's report was tabled in the Lok Sabha. Parrikar said his...

PANAJI: Outgoing Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said the ruling Congress would have done better in the Assembly polls if he had been projected as the party's face for the top post. The picture in Goa, where BJP is set to form the new Government, would have been different if the March 3 elections had been fought completely under his leadership, he told reporters at Margao last evening. "Elections were not...

Digambar Kamat is the first Congress chief minister to complete his term after Goa attained statehood. In this small state known for chief ministers who have lasted less than 24 hours, this is some achievement. But Kamat's tenure has been marked by allegations of politicians' collusion in illegal mining, corruption , land-grabbing and the rise of dynastic politics. Kamat spoke about his government's efforts to curb...

PANAJI: Hitting out at BJP over the illegal mining issue in the state, Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat today sought to know why the saffron party has given tickets to five persons from the mining industry for the upcoming assembly polls. "They are accusing me of illegal mining. But the BJP has given tickets to five people from the mining industry," Kamat said, addressing a public rally at Fatorda in the presence of Congress...

PANAJI: Pharma giant Cipla's plan to develop an SEZ in Goa received another serious jolt on Friday when the north Goa collector ordered removal of all machinery from the site after villagers stalled work for the second time. Following the incident, Cipla CEO Amar Lulla said the company was considering all options, including shifting the plant out of Goa. "For now, we have requested the company to stop work. We will meet all concerned parties, including those opposing the SEZ,...

PANAJI: Land sale to outsiders in Goa could become a thing of the past. The state government is seriously considering a ban on the sale of land to outsiders. The purpose? To preserve the state's "unique identity and culture". Alarmed by the large number of non-Goans settling in the state, the government will soon be bringing in a legislation to bar outsiders ? both Goans and non-Goans ? from purchasing agricultural or orchid lands. "We will go through the...

PANAJI: The Congress party in Goa on Saturday declared the first list of 22 candidates for the March 3 assembly elections in the state. The first list announced tickets for stalwarts including Chief Minister Digambar Kamat , party state Chief Subhash Shirodkar, Speaker of Legislative Assembly Pratapsinh Rane, Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho and Home Minister Ravi Naik among others. Congress campaign manager Mauvin Godinho said the second...